AJ Allmendinger Won’t Bring Attorney To ‘B’ Sample Test, Business Manager Says

Tara Ragan, business manager for suspended driver AJ Allmendinger, debunked published reports that Walldinger Racing plans to bring an attorney to the testing of Allmendinger’s “B” sample, the next step in the procedure under NASCAR’s substance abuse program.

As set forth in NASCAR’s rule book, Allmendinger may attend the “B” sample test at Aegis Sciences Corporation in Nashville, Tenn., or send a qualified toxicologist to represent him.

Allmendinger was suspended Saturday before that night’s Coke Zero 400 at Daytona because the “A” sample from a urine test collected June 29 at Kentucky Speedway tested positive for what Ragan termed in a subsequent statement “a stimulant” in an amount that was “slightly above the threshold.”

Ragan’s statement also included the assertion that Allmendinger had never knowingly taken a prohibited substance and indicated he was requesting a test of the “B” sample, which was collected at the same time as the “A” sample.

The Associated Press reported Thursday that “Allmendinger wants his own toxicologist and attorney present,” citing sources familiar with the case. Noting that the language in the NASCAR rule book restricts attendance at the “B” sample test to the member (Allmendinger, in this case) or a qualified toxicologist, Ragan said Friday morning that Walldinger Racing intended to follow the rules as stated.

Ragan said she took the passage in Section 19-11 B (2) of the rule book literally: “The NASCAR member may be present (either personally or represented by a qualified toxicologist not associated with Aegis) during the second test at his/her expense . . .”

Ragan said Allmendinger has not been informed of a “B” sample test date, next week or otherwise.